Obama's Gift for Brown: 25 DVDs

While the British prime minister presented Obama with uniquely historic gifts symbolizing America's relationship with England, the president gave Brown a set of movies.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/06/obamas-blockbuster-gift-brown-dvds/

 

Let's hope he's a Star Wars fan. 

President Obama gave British Prime Minister Gordon Brown a set of 25 classic American films to mark his historic visit to the White House, British media reported on Friday.

Brown, the first European leader to visit Obama since his Jan. 20 inauguration, was presented with a "special collector's box" of DVDs during his two-day visit to Washington.

Downing Street, which reportedly tried to keep the present a secret, declined to say what movies were included in the set.

"One reason for the secrecy might be that the gift seems markedly less generous and thoughtful than the presents taken to Washington by the Prime Minister," London's Evening Standard newspaper reported.

The Daily Mail, however, reported the movie set included ET, Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz and was produced by the American Film Institute on "special request" from the White House.

Brown, who is not known to be a movie buff, gave the president and his children several uniquely historical gifts.

The first of which is a pen holder fashioned from the oak timber of HMS Gannet, a Navy vessel that served on anti-slavery missions off Africa.

Another treasure given to Obama is a framed commissioning paper for HMS Resolute, a Royal Navy ship that came to symbolize British-American goodwill when it was rescued by the U.S. from icebergs and given to Queen Victoria. It is the sister ship of the HMS Gannet.

Finally, Brown gave Obama a first edition of Martin Gilbert's seven-volume biography of Winston Churchill, whose World War II partnership with President Franklin Roosevelt symbolized the U.S.-Anglo alliance.

For Sasha and Malia, Sarah Brown, the Prime Minister's wife, gave each an outfit from Topshop, a British chain of clothing stores, and selected six children's books by British authors which have yet to be published in the U.S.

In return, First Lady Michelle Obama presented the prime minister's two boys with toy helicopters modeled after Marine One.

Obama was so touched by the gifts, he called Brown on board his private jet on Thursday to thank him. The call was placed after Brown addressed a joint meeting of Congress, the White House said. The two reportedly spoke for 10 minutes.

The White House later issued a press briefing to put on record how much Obama appreciated the gifts.

"The pen set is being displayed on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office and the books are in the President's personal study adjoining the Oval Office," the White House said in a statement.

During Brown's first trip to America in the summer of 2007, he was given a fur-trimmed brown leather bomber jacket by President George W. Bush.

The prime minister's reaction to the DVD set is not known.

 

 

COMMENTS BACK TO STORY

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by generallee Georgia [Mar 6, 2009 7:29:56 AM]

This does not suprise me, he is showing his true depth..........

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by mags4mccain [Mar 6, 2009 7:29:47 AM]

Really, What would you expect from a classless slum lord from Chicago. Next thing will be plastic slip covers on all the WH furniture.

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by mags4mccain [Mar 6, 2009 7:28:15 AM]

Really, What would you expect from a classless slum lord from Chicago. Next thing will be plastic slip covers on all the WH furniture.

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by mags4mccain [Mar 6, 2009 7:27:13 AM]

Really, What would you expect from a classless slum lord from Chicago. Next thing will be plastic slip covers on all the WH furniture.

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by mags4mccain [Mar 6, 2009 7:26:48 AM]

Really, What would you expect from a classless slum lord from Chicago. Next thing will be plastic slip covers on all the WH furniture.

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by 777lucky Illinois [Mar 6, 2009 7:26:22 AM]

He is trying to demonstarte support for all the tacky movie stars that supported him during his campaign, truly pathetic.

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by tarmangani Nebraska [Mar 6, 2009 7:23:51 AM]

So a set of DVDs and Michelle probably sent someone down to the gift shop for a couple of Marine One helicopters. What imagination for someone that spends our money like there is no end. Maybe Barack did not have time so go out and buy a blender.

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by donell101 Alabama [Mar 6, 2009 7:20:17 AM]

An excellent example of American good will by our new president. Perhaps he could have given the PM a few shares of GM to go with this excellent, thoughtful, and most presidential gift. Good grief! This is why you don't put a little boy from Chicago in position to represent our nation!

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by denises [Mar 6, 2009 7:17:43 AM]

From the ghetto to the White House. Oh well, you can put lipstick on a pig...! I do hope they put more time and thought into the gifts they present to the Queen of England than a last minute stop off at the 7-Eleven.

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by thoeting Virginia [Mar 6, 2009 7:08:05 AM]

You can take the person out of the ghetto, but you can't take the gheto out of the person..... Just watch, next time he feels the need to give a gift he will over compensate with something way out of proportion Face it America, we have elected a man with no breeding or class

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by katogill [Mar 6, 2009 7:04:56 AM]

Wow! That is so bad.

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by jthambright New Jersey [Mar 6, 2009 7:04:38 AM]

The only thing that would make this more embarrassing would be that the DVDs are Region 1 coded so Mr Brown wouldn't be able to watch them on his home DVD player. Are these gift ideas coming from his constituents in Hollywood?

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by zatoichi Kentucky [Mar 6, 2009 7:01:19 AM]

What is truly amazing is that the only positive comment so far is from the UK. Seems those suckers are still enamored of The Lard Obama. I will trade you Obama for Brown and throw in a collection of DVD's as well.

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by nymike New York [Mar 6, 2009 6:57:22 AM]

More evidence of the continuing Amateur Hour that is the Obama presidency http://nymike.blogtownhall.com/

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by mckittykey [Mar 6, 2009 6:55:32 AM]

How tacky.

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by cuoffroad2 Georgia [Mar 6, 2009 6:55:01 AM]

We have a child leading our country. He truly has no comprehension of the office that he holds. We should all be afraid.

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by sfjohn [Mar 6, 2009 6:38:32 AM]

OMG - leader of the free world - ahhhhhhhh We are becoming the joke of the free world. Is this the change we needed?

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by pdd3517 [Mar 6, 2009 6:22:22 AM]

How embarrassing!!! I am currently in Europe for the week working and everyone is laughing about our President's gift to Brown. How tacky. This shows that while the family in the White House may have some money, they have no class. Obviously someone ran out to WalMart at the last minute to grab gifts and Michelle stopped off at the souvenir shop at the White House to get her gifts. What is he going to present the Queen with.... a copy of his book? Our President just showed his trailer trash side.

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by zatoichi Kentucky [Mar 6, 2009 6:07:07 AM]

And the DVD's must be returned in 5 days or late fees will be applied. Thanks Lard Obama for your thoughtfulness.

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by keithan49 [Mar 6, 2009 5:59:55 AM]

Low class